Overview

La Crosse County Human Services is seeking a dedicated and dynamic Child Protective Services Supervisor who demonstrates strong leadership, professional excellence, and an unwavering commitment to the safety and well-being of children and families. In this role, you will provide guidance, mentorship, and oversight to social workers and specialists who serve children and families involved in the child welfare system.

As a CPS Supervisor, you will play a pivotal role in shaping high-quality service delivery that reflects the department’s core values of trust, respect, and service. You will lead with compassion and accountability—supporting staff growth, fostering collaboration, and ensuring that services align with best practices, state standards, and agency expectations. Working in partnership with the Family and Children’s Section leadership team, you will help strengthen outcomes for children and families while promoting innovation, continuous learning, and trauma-informed care across the section.

FLSA: Exempt This is a salaried, professional, and supervisory position in the Family and Children’s Services Section of the Human Services Department. This position is designed for a highly motivated, creative, collaborative, and compassionate individual who has good communication skills and can effectively lead a team. The primary responsibility of this position is the direct supervision of social workers and paraprofessional staff who provide services and supports to children and families who are in the child welfare system. Supervisory positions within the section are in the following units: Access, Initial Assessment, Ongoing, Permanency Resource, and Social Service Specialists/Family Interaction. Oversees that service provision meets program, agency and state expectations and is consistent with the overarching child welfare goals of ensuring child safety, permanence, and well-being. This also includes administrative direction and professional development of assigned staff.

Essential Leadership Functions

Act with Integrity and Build Trust

• Demonstrate mutual respect, humility, and honesty in all interactions
• Speak up appropriately, even when expressing unpopular viewpoints
• Actively listen and remain open-minded to diverse perspectives

Drive for Results

• Set clear goals and objectives to motivate self and others to achieve outcomes
• Seek new opportunities to improve processes and drive sustainable results
• Hold self and others accountable through consistent evaluation and monitoring

Develop Talent and Effective Teams

• Foster a collaborative environment that encourages knowledge sharing and growth
• Provide mentorship and support to help self and others reach full potential
• Recognize and leverage diverse strengths within self and team

Lead with Vision and Strategy

• Understand and communicate a compelling vision that aligns with organizational goals
• Develop and execute comprehensive strategies to achieve long-term objectives
• Connect daily work to the bigger picture, inspiring self and others to contribute meaningfully

Lead with Paradoxical, Critical, and Agile Thinking

• Navigate complex situations by considering multiple perspectives
• Adapt quickly to changes and uncertainties in the work environment
• Make critical decisions using analytical skills, experience, and input from others

Build and Maintain Effective Relationships

• Communicate and collaborate effectively with stakeholders across the organization
• Influence others through coaching, consulting, and team-minded thinking
• Develop and sustain partnerships that create positive outcomes for all stakeholders

Cultivate Community Engagement and Provide Excellent Service

• Understand and address the needs and concerns of the community
• Incorporate community perspectives into decision-making processes
• Drive initiatives that create positive impacts beyond the organization

Demonstrate Emotional Intelligence

• Show self-awareness and manage emotions effectively in challenging situations
• Seek and respond constructively to feedback, even in the face of setbacks
• Balance empathy with accountability when leading self and working with others

Essential Job Functions:

Provides supervision and administrative direction for assigned social workers who provide intake, assessment, case planning and case management, and on- going direct services to children and families referred to the Child Welfare System. Ensures staff effectively employ a strength-based approach utilizing evidence-based and best practices.

Provides supervision and administrative direction to a team of specialists responsible for a variety of tasks related to supporting families and staff within the section.

Responsible for hiring, supervision, training, motivation, evaluation, providing performance feedback, scheduling and layout of work of departmental personnel.

Provides ongoing consultation to staff on cases and the need for agency and community services appropriate for that population and to ensure continuity and the effectiveness of services in conformity with state laws and mandates and with agency policy and procedures.

Reviews and approves assessments, case plans, and other required reports and documentation in compliance with the current agency policy, state standards, evidence-based and best practices.

Coordinates, monitors and evaluates contracted program outcomes. This includes monitoring the budget, yearly report, statistics, and consultation.

Prepares required statistics and reports for the Health and Human Services Board, committees and other agency units as requested.

Prepares grant proposals and other funding requests to be submitted to local, state and federal funding resources.

Participates in review and development of agency program, policy, and procedures. Serves as agency representative on community committees and service-related activities.

Works collaboratively with the entire FCS management/supervisory team to develop and enhance CPS case practice and teaming within the Access, Initial Assessment, Ongoing, and Permanency Resource Units.

Related Job Functions

May be required to work evenings and/or weekends.

This job description is not intended to encompass every job duty or responsibility but is only illustrative. This position is required to perform other duties as may be assigned or required.

Will be required to be on-call as part of a rotating schedule. Must be available for consult after hours, weekends and holidays.

Physical demands: Large percentage of time is spent sitting at desk, talking and hearing, using near and far vision. There will be some time spent going with staff out in the field to attend home visits, team meetings, court hearings, etc. to provide support to staff and observe their work to give feedback on performance. Uses telephones, copy machines, computer. Stands, walks, reaches, handles papers and documents throughout the day. At times it is necessary to transport/carry a child, stoop, kneel, bend/twist and move throughout the downtown campus. There is the threat of physical attack or injury from clients in unusual situations. Drives vehicle on occasion.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

Sets clear goals and objectives.

Demonstrates effective problem-solving skills and is solution focused. Comprehensive knowledge of social work principles and methods in the field of child protective services, family dynamics, individual and group behavior. Considerable knowledge of laws, standards and mandates relating to child protective services, and the legislative intent of Chapters 48, 56 and 58.

Thorough knowledge of current social and economic problems and the way in which these problems affect families and individuals.

Knowledge and proven experience in effective interventions including trauma informed practice, motivational interviewing and other evidence- based practices.

Comprehensive knowledge of community agencies and health resources and ways in which these resources may be available to people in need.

Ability to plan, organize and coordinate a variety of service delivery systems, to achieve program objectives most effectively.

Ability to direct and supervise the work of others.

Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships.

Ability to stimulate staff growth and development and to give effective casework consultation.

Ability to compute and analyze statistical information.

Ability to present concise oral and written reports.

Ability to monitor and manage program budgets.

Ability to facilitate effective meetings and engage others in the process of collaboration and effective teamwork.

Training, Experience and Other Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in public administration, Social Work, Psychology, Sociology, or a related field, required.

At least two years of leadership experience, including a preference for staff supervision and program management within a human service or a related area.

May consider other relevant combinations of education and experience that provide equivalent knowledge, skills, and abilities.

Valid driver's license and reliable transportation for countywide travel, where applicable.

Background check in accordance with Wisconsin Caregiver Law.